Patents by Inventor Brian Laird

Brian Laird has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11167715
    Abstract: Pillar release mechanisms and related airbag cushion assemblies. Some embodiments may comprise a curtain airbag assembly comprising an inflator and a curtain airbag cushion configured to be inflated with the inflator. The curtain airbag cushion may extend along an elongated axis and the curtain airbag assembly may be configured to be positioned within and deploy from a panel of a vehicle. The assembly may further comprise a release mechanism coupled with the curtain airbag cushion and configured to be coupled with the panel. The release mechanism may be configured to release the panel using an initial deployment force from the curtain airbag cushion, the initial deployment force being in a direction at least substantially parallel to the elongated axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: David Oral Ballam, Brian Laird, Yutaka Hirata, Lindford R. T. Smith
  • Publication number: 20210213905
    Abstract: Pillar release mechanisms and related airbag cushion assemblies. Some embodiments may comprise a curtain airbag assembly comprising an inflator and a curtain airbag cushion configured to be inflated with the inflator. The curtain airbag cushion may extend along an elongated axis and the curtain airbag assembly may be configured to be positioned within and deploy from a panel of a vehicle. The assembly may further comprise a release mechanism coupled with the curtain airbag cushion and configured to be coupled with the panel. The release mechanism may be configured to release the panel using an initial deployment force from the curtain airbag cushion, the initial deployment force being in a direction at least substantially parallel to the elongated axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: David Oral Ballam, Brian Laird, Yutaka Hirata, Lindford R.T. Smith
  • Patent number: 10888309
    Abstract: An end effector for a surgical fastening device includes a fastener and a tube defining a longitudinal axis. The tube includes an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface defines a lumen that extends along the longitudinal axis. The tube defines depressions that may be arranged helically about the tube along the longitudinal axis. The end effector may include one or more ribs extending along the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Gregory Fischvogt, Kevin Sniffin, Kevin Beaulieu, Brian Laird
  • Patent number: 10554696
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques in which one or more computing devices receive a signal from a first client computing device. The signal indicates that the first client computing device is available for participation in a communication session that enables communication between the first client computing device and one or more other client computing devices. The one or more computing devices determine a context for a topic of discussion associated with the communication session. The context is associated with a content item capable of being outputted by the first client computing device. Responsive to receiving the signal, the one or more computing devices initiate the communication session and send an invitation to at least one of the one or more other client computing devices to join the communication session. The invitation indicates the context of the communication session to at least one of the one or more other client computing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Ujjwal Singh, Brian Laird, Christopher Paul David Johnson, Robert David Cleveland
  • Publication number: 20180214144
    Abstract: An end effector for a surgical fastening device includes a fastener and a tube defining a longitudinal axis. The tube includes an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface defines a lumen that extends along the longitudinal axis. The tube defines depressions that may be arranged helically about the tube along the longitudinal axis. The end effector may include one or more ribs extending along the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Gregory Fischvogt, Kevin Sniffin, Kevin Beaulieu, Brian Laird
  • Publication number: 20180042591
    Abstract: A handheld surgical instrument is provided, including a housing, a handle and a trigger mounted on the housing, and an elongated tubular portion extending distally from the housing. The surgical instrument includes a hand grip having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one opening disposed therebetween, wherein the handle of the handheld surgical instrument is insertable into the at least one opening of the hand grip for engagement therewith. When the hand grip is engaged to the handle of the handheld surgical instrument, the hand grip affects a distance defined between the handle and the trigger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Russo, Jin Yong, Jessica Dinan, Michael Kolb, Kevin Sniffin, Brian Laird
  • Publication number: 20170308249
    Abstract: A system and method for generating and providing user interfaces for interacting with a stream of content are disclosed. A system having one or more processors and a memory is configured to perform operations including receiving a stream of content including one or more content items; selecting a content item; determining a tile type for providing the content item based upon an attribute of the content item; populating tile components for the tile type using the content item; organizing content tiles in a dynamic grid using the attribute of the content items; and providing the dynamic grid of content tiles for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Frank Petterson, Brian Laird, Chikezie Ejiasi, Anand Agarawala, Leslie Ikemoto, Daniel Burka, Karl Channell
  • Patent number: 9778819
    Abstract: A system and method for generating and providing user interfaces for interacting with a stream of content are disclosed. A system having one or more processors and a memory is configured to perform operations including receiving a stream of content including one or more content items; selecting a content item; determining a tile type for providing the content item based upon an attribute of the content item; populating tile components for the tile type using the content item; organizing content tiles in a dynamic grid using the attribute of the content items; and providing the dynamic grid of content tiles for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Petterson, Brian Laird, Chikezie Ejiasi, Anand Agarawala, Leslie Ikemoto, Daniel Burka, Karl Channell
  • Publication number: 20160226926
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques in which one or more computing devices receive a signal from a first client computing device. The signal indicates that the first client computing device is available for participation in a communication session that enables communication between the first client computing device and one or more other client computing devices. The one or more computing devices determine a context for a topic of discussion associated with the communication session. The context is associated with a content item capable of being outputted by the first client computing device. Responsive to receiving the signal, the one or more computing devices initiate the communication session and send an invitation to at least one of the one or more other client computing devices to join the communication session. The invitation indicates the context of the communication session to at least one of the one or more other client computing devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ujjwal Singh, Brian Laird, Christopher Paul David Johnson, Robert David Cleveland
  • Patent number: 9230241
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques in which one or more computing devices receive a signal from a first client computing device. The signal indicates that the first client computing device is available for participation in a communication session that enables communication between the first client computing device and one or more other client computing devices. The one or more computing devices determine a context for a topic of discussion associated with the communication session. The context is associated with a content item capable of being outputted by the first client computing device. Responsive to receiving the signal, the one or more computing devices initiate the communication session and send an invitation to at least one of the one or more other client computing devices to join the communication session. The invitation indicates the context of the communication session to at least one of the one or more other client computing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ujjwal Singh, Brian Laird, Christopher Paul David Johnson, Robert David Cleveland
  • Publication number: 20140164938
    Abstract: A system and method for generating and providing user interfaces for interacting with a stream of content are disclosed. A system having one or more processors and a memory is configured to perform operations including receiving a stream of content including one or more content items; selecting a content item; determining a tile type for providing the content item based upon an attribute of the content item; populating tile components for the tile type using the content item; organizing content tiles in a dynamic grid using the attribute of the content items; and providing the dynamic grid of content tiles for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Petterson, Brian Laird, Chikezie Ejiasi, Anand Agarawala, Leslie Ikemoto, Daniel Burka, Karl Channell
  • Publication number: 20120275891
    Abstract: An easy to use and compact wheelchair lift device that can be quickly and easily installed to load a wheelchair into the trunk of a vehicle. A representative lift is designed such that the wheelchair may be loaded properly and completely without the lift or the wheelchair striking the vehicle. The representative lift is also designed to reduce back strain on an operator by precluding the need to lift the wheelchair. In one embodiment, the wheelchair lift comprises a base frame that may be installed in the trunk of an automobile, a wheelchair platform configured to hold a wheelchair, a sliding frame configured to slide the wheelchair platform to or from the trunk of a vehicle, and a pivoting lift mechanism configured to raise or lower the wheelchair platform to or from the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: MCKAY PACE, BRIAN LAIRD, JAMES SOMERS
  • Publication number: 20080245330
    Abstract: A finger follower assembly (30) for variably activating a valve of an internal combustion engine having a camshaft with at least one lobe (40). The finger follower assembly includes a follower body (54), a shaft (78), a cam follower (56), and a latching mechanism (58). The cam follower is supported by the shaft and is configured for engagement with the at least one lobe. The cam follower is configured to pilot on the camshaft to maintain an alignment of the cam follower with respect to the at least one lobe. The latching mechanism selectively latches and unlatches the cam follower to the follower body to provide first valve lift capability and a second valve lift capability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: TIMKEN US CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew J. Deierlein, Brian Laird, Richard F. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20050096931
    Abstract: A system for managing data regarding derivatives trades is configured to support the operations of a derivatives clearinghouse. The system may be implemented with a web server and a database server. The web server receives requests from client computers for information regarding trades that have been previously accepted by the clearinghouse and, in coordination with the database server, provides the information to the client computers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Applicant: The Clearing Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Baker, Brian Laird, Lance Klein, Matt Sweetnam, Brent Billows, Steven Karlovitz, John Compall, Diane Schuering, Marc MacQuarrie
  • Publication number: 20050091145
    Abstract: A method for managing data regarding executed derivatives trades is used to support the operations of a derivatives clearinghouse. The method may be implemented with a web server and a database server. The web server receives requests from client computers for information regarding derivatives trades that have been previously cleared by the clearinghouse and, in coordination with the database server, provides the information to the client computers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Applicant: The Clearing Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Baker, Brian Laird, Lance Klein, Matt Sweetnam, Brent Billows, Steven Karlovitz, John Compall, Diane Schuering, Marc MacQuarrie